We will listen to part of a talk by Thay Thich Nhật Hanh: Surrender Yourself to the Present Moment, 2004. You can access the full talk here.
In this talk, Thay shares about the importance of trusting our in-breath, our mindful steps, and our body to heal us. By surrendering to the present moment, we are ale to heal. He says:
Each step is a healer. And when you make a step like that, you don't have to struggle at all because making a step is not an act of struggling, an act of fighting, it is total surrendering. You surrender yourself to the present moment. You surrender yourself to the power of healing that is inherent in your body and in your consciousness."
He also reminds of the power of rest. When resting we "authorize our body to heal." The talk is full of instructions and reminders focused on the basic practice of stopping (samatha) in order to allow for healing to occur.
On Monday, will enjoy a silent sitting meditation, a walking meditation, and then a guided. restful meditation. After that, we will listen to 10-15 minutes of Thay's talk, and then have time to share what we heard and how we respond to the teaching as a community. Sharing is always optional.
Here is a guided practice from the video that you may want to practice this week:
Breathing in, I am aware of my body. Good Morning dear body, I am back with you.
Breathing out, I smile to my body, I want to reconcile with my body.
Also, please enjoy the poem below about stopping.
This is a newcomer's week, so please join Brigitte at 6:15 to enjoy 30 minutes of instruction on the basic practices of walking and sitting meditation before our official meditation period begins at 7 pm.
with love,
annie.
Lost [by David Wagoner]
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.